FORT COLLINS — While covering CSU football last fall, I wrote many stories involving each of the the Rams who will participate in Wednesday’s “Pro Day” on the Fort Collins campus, another part of the buildup to the NFL draft.

As a way of introduction to NFL fans who didn’t follow CSU football, or re-introduction to those who did, I’ll share links to a few profile-type pieces on the Rams hoping to land in the NFL.

— Tackle Ty Sambrailo, including his alpine ski racer background with an amazing picture of him competing at age 12.

— Quarterback Garrett Grayson, including how he got from southwest Washington to CSU. (Because of a healing hamstring injury, Grayson isn’t scheduled to participate Wednesday and will hold a Pro Day-type workout March 23.) Read more…

Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall will return from a foot injury to face the Colts on Sunday. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

Brandon Marshall spoke with confidence Friday, unable to hide his smile. He feels ready to play, even if his sprained left foot is not 100 percent. Had Sunday been a regular-season game, Marshall might not be available. But after progressing slowly during the week, Marshall is expected to be active for divisional playoff against the Colts.

The question remains: How effective can he be? Marshall, who missed the final two regular-season games after getting hurt on a tackle against the Chargers, told the Post that he expects to play either base or nickel, but likely not both. The Broncos need to keep him on a play count, and monitor him closely. Marshall sprinted for the first time on Friday. Even he doesn’t know how his foot will respond in coverage, when he must move laterally and make quick, decisive cuts.

Marshall is a tackling machine and excels in coverage. But, again, he must be watched. Linebackers Todd Davis and Steven Johnson figure to see plenty of snaps regardless of Marshall’s health.

The Broncos should be able to beat the Colts with a limited Marshall. It’s hard to see Denver beating the Patriots in New England — if Denver wins Sunday — without Marshall. Getting him back in the lineup is a start. Keeping him healthy in limited duty is equally important.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos returned to practice on Wednesday. No helmets were required as the team continues to balance rest and recovery down the stretch. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

The calendar and the training room can dictate practice this time of year. With three games remaining, a common opponent in San Diego and the bye week occurring two months ago, the Broncos practiced without helmets on Wednesday.

Julius Thomas leads the Broncos with 12 receiving touchdowns, but missed last week’s game with an injured left ankle. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

The Broncos enter their biggest division road game of the season with concerns extending beyond the venue. Denver, like most teams this time of season, is battling injuries at critical positions.

Linebacker Brandon Marshall (concussion) and cornerbacks Aqib Talib (hamstring) and Kayvon Webster (dislocated shoulder) did not practice during the period open to reporters on Wednesday. The Broncos remain optimistic that Marshall will pass the league-mandated concussion protocol and be available to start Sunday against the Chiefs. Talib participated in only 17 plays in the win over the Dolphins as he tried to work through the leg issue.

He filled in for Danny Trevathan in the Broncos’ first three games, a role he figured would dissolve once Trevathan took over last week. On the Jets’ second offensive play, Trevathan injured his left knee, and Marshall’s day changed. As did his gear.

Five days since undergoing an appendectomy, Montee Ball returned to watch Broncos practice. Ball dressed out, but did not participate, spending his time on the sidelines or listening in on the huddle as plays were called. He didn’t provide a prediction on when he will return, but is making gradual progress.

“I feel good,” said Ball, whose appendix was removed on Monday night. “Right now I am getting healthy and strengthening my core, just listening to my body. Just taking it day by day step by step. When you see me back in pads, you will know I am ready.”

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was voted the NFL’s top player by his peers, ahead of Lions’ receiver Calvin Johnson. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

History reaches beyond days on the calendar. It makes its way into highlight films and into opinions. After a 10-week reveal, a single thought prevailed in the Top 100 NFL Network countdown: Peyton Manning is the league’s best player, according to his peers.

BRONCOS DRAFT CB BRADLEY ROBY IN FIRST ROUND
The Broncos filled one of their greatest needs Thursday by selecting highly skilled but troubled Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby with the No. 31 pick in the first round of the NFL draft. In terms of talent, some NFL scouts believe Roby was among the best cornerbacks in this draft. He has good size (5-foot-11, 194 pounds) and is fast (4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash). Although Broncos general manager John Elway said Chris Harris would remain the starting right corner opposite Aqib Talib, the plan is for Roby to come in on nickel situations. Roby would then play the boundary, or outside corner while Harris would move in to the nickel, or field back.— Mike Klis, The Denver Post

BRONCOS MISSED OUT ON MARQISE PLAYER
On a draft night when the theme was stopping Peyton Manning, the Broncos drafted defense when they took Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby. Was Roby the best player available? No way. Denver drafted for need. With Manning 38 years old, there is no tomorrow. The Broncos need to win the Super Bowl. Now.

If you ask me, clearly the best player available when the Broncos selected at No. 31 in the first round was Southern Cal receiver Marqise Lee, who has Pro Bowl potential.— Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post

JOHNNY MANZIEL PLUMMETS TO BROWNS AT NO. 22
What seemed like days after the Texans took pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney with the first pick of the NFL draft Thursday night, hours after the Jaguars selected quarterback Blake Bortles third overall, and minutes after the Cowboys grabbed lineman Zack Martin at No. 16, Manziel sat and sipped. Johnny Football became Johnny Free Fall. After multiple bottles of water, Manziel was taken by the Browns with the 22nd pick. They traded into that slot. “It was tough,” Manziel told the NFL Network of his 2-hour, 48-minute line to the podium. “There was a little bit of anxiousness, a little bit of nervousness. I will pour my heart out for this team.”— Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post

AFC WEST BEEFS UP DEFENSE OF PEYTON MANNING
The Raiders, benefitting from the Bills move up to fourth to snare wide receiver Sammy Watkins, selected linebacker Khalil Mack in the fifth spot. … The Kansas City Chiefs, a surprise contender last season, chose defensive end Dee Ford of Auburn. … San Diego chose a player that might have been a Bronco. Many mock drafts had Denver linked to TCU’s Jason Verrett.— Troy E. Renck, The Denver PostRead more…

If there’s an inside linebacker or cornerback he and the rest of his personnel staff and Broncos’ coaches love, Elway should give up two or three current and 2015 draft picks to get him.

For the first time since perhaps their Super Bowl years in the late 1990s, this Broncos draft must be about quality, not quantity.

Keep in mind, the Broncos are still backlogged from last year’s draft. They had to stash away fifth-round, pass-rushing defensive end Quanterus Smith, fifth-round receiver Tavarres King and sixth-round offensive tackle Vinston Painter last year because they didn’t have room for them on their 53-man roster. They lost King to Carolina while trying to slip him through waivers. And seventh-round quarterback Zac Dysert never got a uniform on game day.

PHOTOS: 10 WORST DRAFT PICKS IN BRONCOS HISTORY
On Tuesday, our Broncos reporter, Mike Klis, offered his 10 best draft picks in franchise history. So now it’s time for the worst 10 picks. (Calm down. Someone’s gotta be in the bottom 10.) Agree with his picks? Disagree? Let us know who you would have in your bottom 10.—Mike Klis, The Denver Post

JOHNNY MANZIEL TO JACKSONVILLE; BLAKE BORTLES TO CLEVELAND
“One NFL source close to the draftable quarterback situation said the buzz is Johnny Manziel going to Jacksonville with the Jaguars’ No. 3 overall pick. And the Cleveland Browns are taking Blake Bortles at No. 4. This scenario makes sense. The Jaguars are paying $4.5 million to veteran Chad Henne, but that’s high-end backup quarterback money. I can see Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, who was Pete Carroll’s former defensive coordinator in Seattle, building a Russell Wilson-like offense around Manziel. The Jags even have Toby Gerhart to play a poor man’s Marshawn Lynch.”— Mike Klis, The Denver Post

MANZIEL: TEAMS WILL REGRET NOT PICKING ME
On the eve of the NFL draft, Johnny Manziel said he has no idea which team will pick him but that any quarterback-needy team that passes on him will regret it. “I believe they will, personally,” he said Wednesday at a league-sponsored function in Lower Manhattan. “I know in my heart how good I want to be and how committed I am to this game.” The former Texas A&M star, projected as a possible top-10 pick, is confident he has alleviated concerns about his off-the-field habits. Clearly, though, he’s still bothered by the perception that he’s a schoolyard quarterback.— Rich Cimini, ESPN.com

With the Broncos heading to Houston for Sunday’s game against the Texans, let’s take a look at the NFL’s best pass rushers of 2012, who are about to meet up after 2013 seasons that have held a whole lot less fanfare. (And no, I can’t promise that every future Stat of the Day post will be this detailed.)

A year ago, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt and Broncos linebacker Von Miller were wrapping up seasons in which they logged 20.5 and 18.5 sacks, respectively, each falling just short of Michael Strahan’s single-season record of 22.5. (Oh, and Aldon Smith finished 2012 with 19.5 sacks, to boot.) It was the year of the 2011 draft class on defense, with the league’s three best players on three of its best teams, poised for big things in the year to come.

Danny Trevathan sticks out his tongue during the Broncos’ game against the Titans Sunday. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

This comes from Twitter via @dyahayuni, and as hard as it is to predict the future, I think so. The Broncos’ situation at linebacker is somewhat muddled right now; Wesley Woodyard was benched last weekend for Paris Lenon, and it’s hard to know what’s in store for the veteran leader. For more on that, check out my story from today.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Wesley Woodyard (52) tries to get the Broncos fans up and loud as the San Diego Chargers are on defense during the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. (Photo by John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Wesley Woodyard was named the Denver Broncos Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year on Wednesday. The award recognizes players for outstanding leadership on and off the field.

It is the third time the linebacker has been honored. The Broncos gave him the award in 2010 and 2011.

According to the team, Woodyard has helped a variety of community projects and organizations, including Hometown Huddle, Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver and the Denver Rescue Mission.

From the Denver Broncos:

Woodyard’s nonprofit, the 16Ways Foundation, has an enormous impact on at-risk youth and hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including an MVP Dinner, multiple youth football camps and Touchdowns for Tomorrow Trivia Night. 16Ways Foundation is also scheduled to host its annual toy drive in December to benefit local charities, including the Tennyson Center for abused and neglected children.

The Broncos also recognized safety Mike Adams, safety David Bruton, guard Ben Garland, tight end Virgil Green and linebacker Steven Johnson as their community ambassadors.

How much longer will Wesley Woodyard be out? The question comes via Twitter from @KitMannRocks, and unfortunately, I can’t see the future. Honestly, if you’d asked this question a week ago, I would have told you all to expect Woodyard to start in Indinapolis. He told the media several times last week that he’d be playing, and there was no reason to doubt him, but he was, as you all know, inactive against the Colts.

On Monday when asked about Woodyard’s status, coach John Fox said that the linebacker was “very close,” and he was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

On Wednesday, Woodyard also spoke about missing Sunday’s game.

“It was extremely hard,” he said. “But I had to make a decision—what was going to put myself and my teammates in a better position down the road—and that was to sit out. It was tough sitting on the sidelines and not being able to help my teammates out there on the field.”

So back to the question: If I were a betting woman, I’d say you should expect to see Woodyard in the lineup on Sunday against the Redskins. That said, there might not be full confirmation until Sunday.

Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard missed last Sunday’s game against Jacksonville after injuring his neck in Dallas. Both he and defensive end Robert Ayers, who also was injured in Dallas, have returned to practice this week for the Broncos, and though Woodyard has been limited all week, he told assembled media on Thursday that he will play in Indianapolis.

If Woodyard does indeed play, the Broncos will have more of their big-name defensive players active than they have all season; Von Miller returns from his suspension, and Champ Bailey played against Jacksonville.

Denver Broncos fans care about Von Miller’s well-being as a person, sure. But forgive them if selfishly their primary concern is Miller doesn’t trip up again. He has proven to be a great defensive player. In his first two NFL seasons, he had 30 sacks in 31 games.

He’s already missed a significant portion of his third season and if he messes up again, he could be suspended for a full season. Why should they trust he will stay clean from now on?

“Trust, it’s hard to earn it. And it’s easy to lose it,” he said. “I don’t have a problem with that. I’m not going anywhere. I’m excited about the opportunity to earn everybody’s trust back.

“I can’t sit here today and say this and say that. It wouldn’t be logical. I can tell them that I’m taking it one day at a time and doing everything in my power to never be an issue. But I have to take it one day at a time.”

Linebacker Steven Johnson celebrates after blocking an Eagles punt and returning it for a touchdown on Sept. 29. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Many a casual Broncos fan might not even have heard of linebacker Steven Johnson until Sunday, when he blocked an Eagles punt and returned it for a touchdown, but Johnson himself is ready to get on with things after his big score.

The linebacker, who’s played primarily on special teams, told me on Wednesday that after the game he watched tape of the return over and over just to get it out of his system and become bored with it. He wants to move on and continue to expand his role, he said, and with Danny Trevathan’s Wednesday knee injury — fortunately for the Broncos, MRIs came back negative — Johnson might just get that chance.

According to a story Monday on CBSSports.com, suspended Broncos linebacker Von Miller has turned to his parents to help him return to the team “a more mature, responsible individual.” Miller’s parents moved in with him shortly after his suspension came down, according to the story, which further elaborates about the linebacker’s problems remembering details and showing up to meetings.

In addition, the writer, Jason La Canfora, mentions that the Broncos have a team representative working closely with Miller and his people. When asked whether the team was doing so last week, coach John Fox skirted the question and did not confirm whether there was an employee assigned to Miller.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.